# Halicryptus

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Halicryptus
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Halicryptus.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halicryptus
> Source revision: 1345249166
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Short description|Genus of priapulid worms}}
{{Automatic taxobox 
| image = Halicryptus spinulosus 1.JPEG
| image_caption = ''[Halicryptus spinulosus](/source/Halicryptus_spinulosus)''
| taxon = Halicryptus
| authority = von Siebold, 1849
}}

'''''Halicryptus''''' is the sole genus of its class of [priapulid](/source/priapulid) worms,<ref name="Shirley1999">{{Cite journal| last1 = Shirley | first1 = T. C. | last2 = Storch | first2 = V. | title = Halicryptus higginsi n.sp. (Priapulida): A Giant New Species from Barrow, Alaska | jstor = 3227009 | journal = Invertebrate Biology | volume = 118 | issue = 4 | pages = 404–413 | year = 1999 | doi = 10.2307/3227009 | bibcode = 1999InvBi.118..404S }}</ref> and has an important effect on the structure of soft-sediment communities.<ref name="Aarnio1998">{{Cite journal | last1 = Aarnio | first1 = K. | last2 = Bonsdorff | first2 = E. | last3 = Norkko | first3 = A. | title = Role of Halicryptus spinulosus (Priapulida) in structuring meiofauna and settling macrofauna | doi = 10.3354/meps163145 | journal = Marine Ecology Progress Series | volume = 163 | pages = 145–153 | year = 1998 | bibcode = 1998MEPS..163..145A | doi-access = free }}</ref>

This genus contains the following species:
* ''[Halicryptus higginsi](/source/Halicryptus_higginsi)''
* ''[Halicryptus spinulosus](/source/Halicryptus_spinulosus)'' - type species

''Halicryptus spinulosus'' exhibits a wide distribution around the Arctic Ocean and can reach lengths of 4 cm as adults, while the distribution of ''Halicryptus higginsi'' appears to be restricted to the [Beaufort Sea](/source/Beaufort_Sea) near Point Barrow, and can grow to about 40 cm, the largest known priapulids, even if 20 cm long adults are more common.<ref>{{cite journal | last1=Raeker | first1=Jan | last2=Worsaae | first2=Katrine | last3=Schmidt-Rhaesa | first3=Andreas | title=David versus Goliath: An interspecific comparison between small-sized Halicryptus spinulosus and large-sized Halicryptus higginsi (Priapulida) | journal=Zoologischer Anzeiger | date=2024 | volume=313 | page=1 | doi=10.1016/j.jcz.2024.08.003 | bibcode=2024ZooAn.313....1R | url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0044523124000755 | doi-access=free }}</ref>

== Halicryptus spinulosus==
Halicryptus spinulosus is a species of priapulid worm found in marine environments. It is a macrobenthic priapulid living in disjunct subarctic brackish seas, including the White Sea, waters off Iceland, northern Siberia and Alaska, and in an outlying range in the [Baltic Sea](/source/Baltic_Sea). Known for its distinctive spiny appearance, this worm plays a role in the benthic ecosystem, often inhabiting sandy or muddy substrates. Like other priapulids, it has a relatively simple body structure and is considered a predator, feeding on small invertebrates.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=van der Land |first1=Jaap |title=Systematics, zoogeography, and ecology of the Priapulida |journal=Zoologische Verhandelingen |date=1 January 1970 |volume=112 |issue=1 |pages=1–118 |url=https://repository.naturalis.nl/pub/317612 |language=en}}</ref> Its presence provides insights into the evolutionary history and ecological roles of priapulids, linking modern forms to ancient lineages.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Janssen |first1=Ralf |last2=Wennberg |first2=Sofia A |last3=Budd |first3=Graham E |title=The hatching larva of the priapulid worm Halicryptus spinulosus |journal=Frontiers in Zoology |date=2009 |volume=6 |issue=1 |pages=8 |doi=10.1186/1742-9994-6-8|doi-access=free |pmc=2693540}}</ref> lives in sulfide-rich, oxygen-poor sediments. During elevated sulfide levels it increasingly relies on anaerobic metabolism
and turns black, due to a film of bacteria covering its cuticle.<ref>[https://www.int-res.com/articles/meps/48/m048p285.pdf Association of various types of epibacteria with Halicryptus spinulosus (Priapulida) ]</ref><ref>[https://www.int-res.com/articles/meps/86/m086p167.pdf Sulfide detoxification and tolerance in Halicryptus spinulosus (Priapulida): a multiple strategy]</ref><ref>[https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/56272/1/Juterzenka_K_1991.pdf Epizoic bacterial growth on a benthic macro-invertebrate Halicryptus spinulosus (Priapulida)]</ref>

==See also==
*{{Cite journal | last1 = Lemburg | first1 = C. | doi = 10.1007/BF00397931 | title = Ultrastructure of the introvert and associated structures of the larvae of Halicryptus spinulosus (Priapulida) | journal = Zoomorphology | volume = 115 | pages = 11–29 | year = 1995 | s2cid = 42437901 }}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikispecies}}
{{ITIS|id=155158|taxon=''Halicryptus''}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q2630392}}

Category:Priapulida
Category:Ecdysozoa genera

{{Protostome-stub}}

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Halicryptus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halicryptus) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halicryptus?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.